National Cross Country Relays, Cumbernauld Oct 24, 2009

The weather was looking ominous for my 58th race of the year and I was fighting off a touch of the cold, when we managed to lock my driver for the trip to Cumbernauld’s car keys in his boot things could only get better….and they did!

After collecting his spare keys from the other side of the city and driving through the pouring rain to Cumbernauld the rain abated for the duration of the races. Bella had a record seven teams entered, two women’s and five men’s. I was down to run the first leg of the E Team and although I was confident that I could run the fastest leg in the team, I would have still finished very near the end of the 120 athletes running the first leg. However when Kenny Richmond our top runner called off with an injured back I was promoted, not to the A Team but to leg 4 of the D Team.

The rain kept away for the duration of the races and the Bella Brollies (this year’s prize for completing the club championship) were in attendance but not required until the post race walk back to Cumbernauld High School. With the conditions so much better than last year there were PBs aplenty as the purple posse put in some credible performances.
I probably spent more time in the waiting pen than any other runner as I keenly anticipated my first cross country of the year. I chatted with the other competitors and warmed up before I spotted Ewan McDonald making his way back to the handover point. I shouted words of encouragement but to no avail as he was overtaken by a Lothian Runner just before he crossed the line.
I was the last Bella to set off and as I raced down the initial hill past the Bella posse, I heard the cheers of the other Bellas ringing in my ears. As I approached the first hill I noticed that the Lothian runner was struggling with the incline and as I overtook him I increased my pace to make sure he didn’t catch up with me. However it wasn’t that long until I was overtaken by Clydesdale Harrier Gerry Montgomery, who I knew to be a much faster runner than me. I made my way round the heavy course to the sound of “C’mon Ian” as friends and running buddies provided vocal support. An HBT runner (Ian Campbell?) overtook me and although I returned the favour on the next hill he managed to get away from me a wee bit later. I had now lost a place and I took advantage of my ‘gun ho’ down hill running technique to overtake someone else as we approached the last leg of the course. The Bellas and others were encouraging me to catch the next runner in front of me and although I was trying I doubted if there would be sufficient time to catch him. However as I approached the final uphill section I could see that he was slowing and I gave it my all as I produced from who knows where a grandstand sprint finish to overtake him before I crossed the line. I had managed to out sprint a Shettleston Harrier, I don’t think I’ll get the opportunity to say that very often and just as important I had gained one place for the team. We finished in 77th place and I had taken 18:49 to complete my lap, 2:34 faster than last year! Another PB my fourth in the month.
Everyone had done well in a great turn out from the club.

Women’s
13 Bellahouston RR “A”
Claire Thompson 17 17:18 17:18
Emma Birnie 10 16:52 34:10
Jane Simpson 13 17:20 51:30

42 Bellahouston RR “B” (V)
Jane Wild 57 20:20 20:20
Jacqueline McGuire 50 20:10 40:30
Julia Harris 42 19:21 59:51

Men’s
19 Bellahouston RR “A”
Alasdair McLeod 39 14:58 14:58
Marcos Sanz Gomez 34 15:26 30:24
Matthew Williamson 28 14:41 45:05
Liam Conway 19 14:55 1:00:00

31 Bellahouston RR “B”
Neil Farnell 44 15:10 15:10
*Grant Edmondson 40 15:36 30:46
Craig Ross 34 15:08 45:54
Russell Whittington 31 15:16 1:01:10

48 Bellahouston RR “C“
Brian O’Donnell 60 15:55 15:55
David Weatherhead 51 15:53 31:48
Andrew Birnie 47 15:54 47:42
Brendan Moriarty 48 16:08 1:03:50

77 Bellahouston RR “D”
*Peter Goodwin 76 16:34 16:34
Robert McEwan 70 16:29 33:03
Ewan McDonald 78 18:31 51:34
Ian Goudie 77 18:49 1:10:23

Bellahouston RR “E“
Norman Boyle 118 19:53 19:53
Douglas MacGregor 114 20:46 40:39
Mike Devlin 105 23:09 1:03:48

My First 10,000m on a Track

I made my way out to Coatbridge on Sunday, October 18 to run in the Scottish Vet's 10,000m championship race. I hadn't been at the outdoor track before and it wasn't well signposted, so I was later arriving at the stadium than I had planned. As I parked the car, one of my running buddies informed that I better hurry as the race started in ten minutes. I got to the registration desk and convinced the woman that was packing up to give me a late entry and after I got changed and made my way out on to the track, I was paired with a lap counter and the race started. No time for a stretch and no Garmin to monitor my time, I decided to run behind Marie McChord. However as soon as the gun fired there was a lot of pushing and I ran out and ahead of her to get away from the scramash. However as other ran behind me there was a few accidental heel clippings and I was wondering what I'd let myself in for. Marie overtook me and as my legs were still tired from Saturday's PB, I decided just to sit behind her and see how I got on.

The race consisted of some 25 laps and the role of the lap counter was to shout at me every time I passed the start/finish line to advise me of how many laps were remaining. I had heard that there were sometimes mistakes and thought that at least if I stuck close to Marie then there would be less of a chance of me having to run an extra lap. I noticed that she increased the pace every time we turned around the bend and entered the straight to the start/finish. I kept with her and although I was forced to run shoulder to shoulder with her for some parts as we either lapped other runners or were overataken or or lapped from the inside, I decided not to push on but to resume my place behind her. As the laps dissapeared one by one, I kept my mind busy by converting the remaining number of laps into actual distance or percentages of 10,000m.

The bell rang to indicate that the faster runners were now on their last lap. We had lapped Gordon McDonald a couple of times and the slowest runner a lot of times. I noticed that fellow Bella Road Runner and friend Al MacLachlan was sprinting over the finish line as my lap counter was informing me that I had three laps remaining. I was feeling OK and had noticed that Marie's faster pace down the home straight seemed to have decreased. I was wondering how best to finish the race. If I could out sprint her, or cross the line together but as it happens as we commenced our last lap, I was forced on to her shoulder and decided to go for it. I heard her say something as I passed her and presumed it was words of encouragement. I couldn't hear her or anyone else behind me as I completed the rest of the race and crossed the line to the cheers of the officials and those already finished. I caught my breath and turned around to thank Marie for the run and to ascertain what time she had taken. She informed me that she thought that there was no way that I would be able to keep up with her for the duration of the race as we exchanged hugs. Marie had completed the event in a new 42:59. I was guaranteed a PB as this was my first 10,000m but it was also only the second time that I had ran 10k in less than 43 minutes. I later discovered that I had finished in 22nd place with a time of 42:53 (wava 71.35%), which meant that I had made six seconds on Marie in that last lap. Marie had finished second women, to Marina McCallum, and first W50+.

I had enjoyed my run and was pleased to know that my recent good form was still paying dividends. A free race, hot showers, tea and biscuits and a new PB, not a bad Sunday afternoon. The race was followed by the SVHC AGM where I agreed to join the committee in order to help promote the organistion.

Bella Awards Night With a Gallus Besom

The Bellahouston Road Runners Club Awards were held recently in Cafe Source at St Andrews in the Square. It's always the event of the year for the club and sees the awarding of the prizes for the club championships. A few years ago only a few people would complete the eight races required to fulfil the championship criteria and only one or two of the elite runners had any chance of winning. However last year I successfully campaigned for mementos to be awarded to everyone who achieves the criteria and this year I convinced the club to include a super veteran category in the championships. This year I've been the club statistician and I’ve made it my mission to ensure that as many people as possible completed the championship and despite some stick, I’ve constantly laboured the championship throughout the year. It was therefore with some pride that I announced that the number of Bellas qualifying this year was 44, 31 Bella Fellas and 13 Bella Belles, far surpassing anything that the championship has ever achieved. New Club President Robert McEwan asked if I would hand out this year’s mementoes, club umbrellas, together with the certificates which I had created providing information on every individual’s performance over the year. I was honoured to oblige.

Congratulations to Claire Thompson and Colin McGill for winning the championship for the second year in succession, to Gerry Scullion and Emma Birnie for winning the veteran prizes and to Norman Boyle for winning the inaugural super vet championship.


The First Ever Bella Road Runners' Super Vet Champion Norman Boyle

They were joined by:

Bella Fellas
Alasdair McLeod; Scott Kennedy; Greig Glendinning; Nick Reid; Andy Birnie; Kenny MacBeth; Russell Whittington; Brian O'donnell; Peter Gallanagh; Alastair Maclachlan; Bruce Carse; Brendan Moriarty; Joe Sheridan; Mark McGoldrick; Andrew Rooney; Andrew McDonald; Jim O'Hara; Tony Cairns; David Boyle; Gavin Greene; Ewan McDonald; Keith Gibb; Tom McMillan; Scott Johnson; Richard Leyton; Chris Doak; Stephen Bell and of course my good self who managed to race more than anyone else completing 17 championship events.

Bella Belles
Claire Wharton; Jane Simpson; Pauline Wright; Karlyn Forsyth; Katie Padgham; Louise Ross; Lynne Andrew; Linda Kennedy; Jackie McGuire; Louise Gray and Jane Galt.



One pleasant surprise on the night was to discover that one of our runners is married to Muriel Gray, the journalist and broadcaster. We seemed to ‘hit it off’ when we were introduced and she was wonderful company during the dinner as we exchanged anecdotes and jokes.

The First Edinburgh parkrun and a Great New PB

Cramond was the sunny, cold but wind free setting for the inaugeral Edinburgh parkrun held at 9:30am on Saturday October 17. Just over 200 runners of mixed abilities turned up for the event including Parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt, Glasgow parkrunners Richard Leyton, Tom Keenan and Tom Ross.

I joined in with the mass warm up provided by Katrina O'Hagan of David Lloyd before the race and then lined up near the start line with my sun glasses, Bella top and knickerbockers on. I wished Neil Renault good luck just before the off and made my way behind those at the very front.

The cold temperature was soon forgotten as I and the runners set off along the foreshore towards Granton. I knew that the route was out and back and included a long turn. Kilometre markers were placed but as my Garmin had finally died and with no stop watch, they were of limited value to me. I didn't really know any of the runners around me to race against them so I decided just to give the race my best shot.

Just as the route veered left wards at the start of the long turn parkrun creator Paul overtook and we both shouted words on encouragement to Neil Renault who was making his way back, well ahead of the rest of the front runners. I could hear a woman running behind me as I made my way around the turn but I worked hard to ensure that she didn't catch me. After the turn I increased my pace and caught a runner within a few metres. I could see Paul and John Owens a good bit ahead of me with about six other runners in between. With views of Cramond Island on my right hand side and the iconic Forth Bridges in the distance in front of me I tried to reel in the other runners and close the gap between myself and Paul and John.





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I managed to up the pace for the last kilometre and was happy with my performance as I crossed the line and was handed token no.44. I made my way for my free banana and coffee and then rembered that I should join the queue to hand in my token and chat with my fellow runners, including Davie Black, who was one of a healthy contingent from the West Lothian Triathlete Club and had warmed up for the event by cycling some twenty odd miles to Cramond and of course back home again after the 5k. I also spoke to Tana Walker and her friend Morna Reekie who had also cycled to Cramond but only from the other side of Edinburgh. They asked me how I had travelled to the race and I advised them that I had driven, I then realised that they hadn't appreciated, despite my Bella vest, that I had came through from Glasgow.

Richard Leyton told me that he had finished in 48th position in 20:43, a new PB by 16 seconds and that I was a good bit in front of him. However it was only later on that evening when the results became available on-line that I learned that I had achieved a time of 20:19 (a wava of 73.75%) some 19 seconds better than my previous best 5k time! This was my 56th race of 2009 and my tenth PB.


First Ever Winner

Edinburgh AC's Neil Renault (S25-29) earned the distinction of being the first ever winner of the Edinburgh parkrun. The tall Team GB athlete led from the start and finished in an incredible 14:59. Almost one minute ahead of Harmeny AC's Robert (Boab) Turner (S35-39), who ran a personal best (PB) to finish second with a time of 15:53. Border Harrier Colin Welsh (S25-29) finished one second out from his PB to earn third place in 16:47.

First Ever Woman Winner

The women's event was much more closely contested with only ten seconds between the first three finishers. Edinburgh Road Club's Rachel Ramsay (S30-34) got off of her bike to become the first ever winner, with a time of 20:48. Unattached Holly Orr (S25-29) finished just three seconds behind, earning second place in 20:51. Whilst, triathlete Varry Mccullough Young (V45-49) finished in third spot and first super vet in a time of 20:58.

My 25th Glasgow parkrun

My 55th race of the year and my 25th Glasgow parkrun took place on Saturday October 10 at 9.30am. It was the morning after the Bella Awards Dinner and some people commented on how remarkably fresh looking I was. I advised them that it was only a facade! As the race approached, I had to decide how I was going to approach the run. My heel is injured but I managed five miles on the treadmill on Friday and of course, I was slightly worse for wear from the previous night's consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. However I found my self near the front of the runners and decided to work hard.

At the off, I tried to start my Garmin only to discover that the batteries were flat. I would need to run blind of my time. I set off at a decent pace and rather than slowing like last week I attempted to keep up the pace for as long as I could. Of course this didn't stop the better runners from overtaken me before we reached the woods. First Marjon said 'good luck' as she passed me on the right hand side and then Robert McEwan patted me on the back as he overtook me on the left. Although Robert soon dissapeared ahead of me, I was able to keep Marjon in my sight.

As I ran down the 'glade' Jules Rose overtook me and settled in front of me. I pulled out and returned the favour. He was on my tail until the start of the third hill, where I accelerated uphill and left him behind. However it wasn't long until he caught me and left me behind as we approached the glade for the second time.

I hung on in and could see Jules and Marjon in front of me all the time. Although I had no chance of catching them, I was trying to close the gap between us. As I ascended the last hill and made my way to the finishing straights there was no one within catching distance. However I knew I was running well and decided to go for the best possible time I could achieve.

I sprinted down the hill and over the line. I had no watch to stop and could only ask Jules and Marjon their times to gauge my result. 20:58 and 20:51 respectively, I was five places behind Marjon and three behind Jules, so I had a good chance of getting a PB but I would need to wait to find out.


Me chatting with Mairi Stangley, winner of the women's race.

As I enjoyed my Ayrshire Bacon roll and soya latte in the Burrell Cafe, I was pleased to be informed by Richard Leyton that they had compiled the results and I had finished in 21:18, a further improvement from last week of 12 seconds. I new course PB for me and my ninth PB of 2009. A good start to the weekend.

Up the Campsies

Now that my marathon training is over I get the chance to try other activities so it was with a spring in my step that I and my flat mate Gunda headed up into the Campsie Fells on Sunday October 4. The route she chose was the one along the road, up the paths to Lecket Hill (547), across to Cort-ma Law (531) and back to the road via Lairs (518).

The initial bit of off road walking was fine, not too steep and became more gradual as we made our way up through a few bogs towards Lecket Hill. The day before had been very wet and windy but today was dry, cold but sunny. Good weather for walking and for appreciating the Scottish scenery.

However, as I looked at Gunda’s guide book I noticed that the stage between Lecket Hill and Cort-ma Law was described as ‘daunting’. Gunda, who is German, explained that she didn’t know what the word meant. I advised her that it meant ‘don’t do it!’ We met three walkers coming in the other direction, one of which was soaked through and they advised us not to do the next section, however we decided to give it a try. It was boggy, very boggy in some parts, the path disappeared a few times and we had to cross a burn as we made our way to Cort-ma Law. We both got wet but it was worth it and not too ‘daunting’ after all.

The next section was much easier and took us along the ridge and through a couple of bogs to Lairs and then down back towards the car park. We met an elderly couple, both with two walking sticks, making their way up towards Lairs. They asked us if the cairn ahead was Cort-ma Law and we explained that it was a further two kilometres away and that there were a few boggy parts on the way. The guy was in his 80’s and I was amazed that they had got that far. Well done to them!
The views back over Lennoxtown to Glasgow were impressive as we completed our days walk and headed for the local tea room and some Earl Gray and then homewards for a wee siesta.

It’s been years since I was up the hills and my vertigo and post viral fatigue had kicked in but today I had no problems what so ever and I’m looking forward to my next one already.

My 54th Race of 2009 and another PB!

My 54th race of the year should have been the Loch Ness Marathon. I had trained 18 weeks for it and was in great shape, apart from a tender left heel which had been playing on my mind. The weather forecast for the days running up to the marathon were not good for towing a caravan, I wasn't looking forward to the two and a half hour delay from getting the race bus to the start of the race and when I developed an eye infection I decided to give it a miss. On the day the start was delayed by a further 50 minutes and the hills seemed to have taken their toll on many of my running buddies who had ran the event.

Instead I decided to run in my 24th Glasgow parkrun. I stayed in on Friday and had a few drinks of the vino rouge and initially would have been happy to run around the course at an easy pace. However when I met my running buddies at Pollok Park and made my escuses to them about not doing Loch Ness the guilt kicked in and I decided that I should try for a decent time. For the first time I started near the front of the 183 runners and as I accelerated down the road after the start of the race, I was surprised that the faster runners behind me hadn't overtaken me. "I must be running too fast" I thought to myself and slowed a little, allowing them to pass me, as we made our way out of the strong winds and into the sheltered woodlands. As I ran down the glade I overtook a tall young woman with an orange top and dark blue shorts on. However as the road was slippery and there were a few branches and pot holes and a lot of leaves I decided to keep near the middle of the road. She then reappeared in the inside lane and we ran together for a bit before I overtook her on the bend and she overtook me once more at the next hill. There was a guy in front of us also dressed in an orange top and dark blue shorts and although I thought that they might have been partners she ran right passed him and into the distance.
I was happy with my pace and decided to let her go.
I was doing well and had targetted another couple of runners in front of me. I managed to overtake the guy easily but the woman was more competitive and put up a strong challenge. However when a couple of park walkers and their four dogs all but cut off our path, I managed to jump over the dogs and raced away. The sound of her footsteps behind me faded as I increased the gap between us. I could see the lass with the orange top on a good bit in front of me, with quite anumber of runners in between. I decided that the best statrategy was to race against her and ignore the runners between us. Although I had no chance of catching her my plan worked as I reeled in a few more runners, especially in the last hill. I lapped a runner as I approached the final brae but there was no-one that I could see ahead of me to that I could catch before the finish line. Instead I settled for a good controlled run over the line, which left me feeling strong. My time was 21:30 which I knew was decent for me in this course. I chatted with the gal with the orange top, Marjon from West Netherlands, and I complimented her particularly for her second lap. This was her fourth running of the event, she finished fourth woman and her time of 21:01equaled her PB.

We headed off for our usual post race banter and roll in bacon at the Burrell Cafe.

It was only later that I discovered that I had taken 18 seconds off of my parkrun PB. No substitute for missing out on a marathon but heh it was much more enjoyable.

There were a number of great performance, particularly from Liam Conway, Iona Robertson and Marina McCallum.